The apple snail (scientific name: Pomacea canaliculata), also known as the golden apple snail or channelled apple snail, is an omnivorous fresh water snail native to Argentina, South America. The species was initially introduced into Taiwan in 1979 as a substitute food source for the native river snail (田螺pila). Profiteers cultured apple snails in large quantities, but their texture was too soft for consumers’ taste, so the apple snails were released into field trenches and rivers and disposed of. Thanks to their highly adaptive nature, these apple snails can now be found in freshwater areas, ponds and rice fields all over Taiwan.

 

Apple snails are especially fond of eating rice roots. Bright pink masses often seen on concrete surfaces by the river and ditches are the snail egg clutches. Each clutch contains tens to hundreds of eggs, which hatch within 10 to 17 days; with a lifecycle of 88 to 204 days, they can reproduce up to two generations in one year. In addition, apple snails have no natural predators in Taiwan, leading to disastrous effects on rice plantations. Present prevention measures by farmers involve the use of pesticides. However, these pesticides also harm other non-target species along with apple snails. Another means of prevention is to drown the egg clutches in the water, for despite being aquatic, apple snail eggs cannot hatch underwater. Another method involves erecting wooden pillars in the trenches, and attracting apple snails to lay eggs there. The wooden pillars are then collected and destroyed. 

 

 

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